Mail-box.



W. MORRISON.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. 1913.

@yyw

I qmy m W. MORRISON.

MAIL BOX. APPLICATION FILED NOV- IZ, 1913.

1,146,896. Patented July 20, 1915.

6 SHEETSSHEET 2.

awuzMo o v COLUMBIA PLANOGRAI'H COnWASHINGTON. Dvc.

W. MORRISON.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, I913.

iii/[ 0111 ///0/ 4mm (lbtowug 6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented July 20, 1915.

p w W a w M 5 a l" 3 a H a .m W l COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cov, WASHINGTON.D. c.

W. MORRISON.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented July 20, 1915.

1 AIIIIILIII'IIIIII! iIIIIIIInlllllli'llll!li'illfil R I llliulltllrluaia Al mu M man? Iii, 5555mm.Wang:imwmmmm'l.aiiaiiii Ila-hail! /Al amoemozfill/M222 War/25022 attomua COLUMBIA PLANoaRAPn c0 WASHINGTON, D. c.

W; MORRISON.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1913.

1,146,896. Patented July 20, 1915.

6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20.. \vAsHlNuToN, D. c.

W. MORRISON.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. 19:3.

Patented July 20, 1915.

6 SHEETS'SHEET 6.

wm w :OLUMBIA PLANOORARH LEO-,WASHINGTON. n. c.

WILLIAM MORRISON, or eEonGIANA, ALABAMA.

iVIhIL-BQX.

misses.

Specification of Patent.

Patented July 20, 1915.

, Apiilication filedNovernber 12, 1913. sans... 800,556.

To aZlcu lqo m it may concern:

Beit known that I, VVIIJ IAM Morrison, a citizen of the United States,residing at Georgiana, in the county of Butler andState of Alabama, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes,- of which'thefollowing is aspecification.

This invention relates to automatic coincontrolled mail boxes, theobject in view being to produce a mail box which is designed andconstructed to receive mail matter such as letters, envelops, newspapersand other articles and impress thereon 'a stamp or printedrepresentation of the same and of the proper denomination in accordancewith the weight of the letter or other article, and then deliver thesame into a suitable receptacle from which itmay besubsequentlyextracted by an oflicial of the post-office The impressionstamp is carried by a plunger, and the movementsthereof are controlledby the introduction of coins ofthe proper denominations into the machinethe construction of.whichprevents the operation of the stanipingmechanism without the introduction of the propercoins'therein.

With the above and other jobjectsin view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangementof parts, as will hereinafterbe more fully illustrated, describedand claimed. c

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation ofa mail boxembodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is aside elevation thereof. Fig.3 is a vertical fore and aft section on the line 3+3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a vertical section on;the line44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 0 is a detailvertical section taken on the same line as Fig. 4 showin aninteri'nedia-te position of the dog and latch,

as well .as the plungerand coin runway car-.

ried thereby. Fig. 6 is a similar, section showing "the second positionofsaid parts. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 7,7 of Fig. 8.Fig. 8fisfa vertical cross section on the line 88 of Fig. 7. Fig. '9 isavertical fore and aft section on the line 99 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 isazdet-ail vertical section on the same line as Fig. 4 showing theposition of the hook and pin wheel when the plunger is advanced. Fig. 11 is a detail vertical section on the line 11 11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 isa detail perspective view showing the connection between the plungerloperatin'g hook and the actuating "rack bar.

Fig. 13 is, a detail elevation of said hook together withthe actuatingspring therefor and the pivot-clip thereof. Fig. l-l is adetailhorizonfta l section on the line 14..14-. of Fig. 5. Fig. 15 is, asimilar section showing an increased number of trip dogs and latches;Fig. 1.6 is a detail perspective view of the dog and latch separated.Fig. 17 is a detail perspective view of the adjustable toothed segment.Fig. 18 is a detail horizon tal section on the line 1818 of Fig. 1. Fig.19 is a detail vertical section showing the trap door operatingmechanism. I

i The 'inail box contemplated in this inven tion i 's. illustrated infront and side elevation in Figs, '1 and 2, respectively, wherein itwill be observed that said mail box embodies a substantiallyurectangular and vertically elongated casing embodying the oppositelylocated sides 1, back 2 and front 3, which consi'sts'of a door hinged asshown ,at 4 and provided with a key hole 5 leading to a lock 6 so as togive access to the contents of the cabinet by an ofiicial of the PostOffice Department, the door 3 opening into that part of the cabinetwhich contains the mail receptacle and the coin box hereinafter referredto. I

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be observed that just above thedoor 8 the cabinet is provided with a pocket 7 open at the top .topermitfletters and other mail matter to be inserted therein, the bottomof the pocket being closed by a trap door 8 housed within the cabinet soas to be inaccessible, said trap door being operated by a push rod 9;and lever 9 normally upheld by a spring 10 which serves to keep thetrap door 8 normally closed, the u'ppe'r portion of said push rod 9being. offset in a forward direction so as to extend outwardly from thecasing where it is provided with a push button 11. After the mail matterhas been stamped by the mechanism hereinafter described, by piishingdownwardly on the button 11, the trap door 8 is opened thereby allowingthe mail matter to slide by gravity downwardly through a chute 12 into a;mail receptacle having a draw pull 1 1 to facilitate its remo val andinsertion from the lower portion of the cabinet upon the opening of thedoor 3 as will be readily understood by reference As shown 'in Fig. 18,the mail receptacle 18 is provided along its opposite top edges withlaterally projecting guide flanges 15 which are received in grooves 16in cleats or guides 17 at opposite sides of the compartment in which themail receptacle 13 is placed. The same cleats or guides 17 are rabbetedas shown at 18 to receive the opposite bottom corners of a coin box 19also provided with a draw pull 20 to facilitate the removal thereof fromthe cabinet when the door 3 is opened. The coin box 19 is shown asprovided with an inclined false floor 21 to prevent the accumulation ofcoins beneath the discharge end of the coin chute hereinafter moreparticularly described, the parts just referred to being clearlyillustrated in Figs. 4 and 18.

The mechanism for imprinting a stamp or the representation of a stamp onthe mail matter inserted in the pocket 7 comprises a plunger which asshown in Fig. 7 is composed of several parts, 22 designating the mainbody of the plunger which carries three plunger stems 23, 24 and 25, thesaid stems slidin through guide openings in a stationary guide 26.Plunger return springs 27 encircle the plunger stems 23 and 24 betweenthe fixed guide 26 and the body 22 of the plunger, said springs being ofthe coiled expansion type and operating to thrust the plunger rearwardlyor away from the pocket 7 at the front of the cabinet when the plungeris released by the mechanism hereinafter referred to.

Each of the stems 23 and 24 is provided at its forward end with aplunger head 28 which works through apertures 29 in a verticallyextending plate 30 within the cabinet, said plunger heads being designedto press against the mail matter indicated at 31 in Fig. 7 at pointsequidistant from the center thereof for the purpose of distributing thepressure equally on said mail matter. Upon one of said plunger heads 28is placed a stamp containing a suitable type surface in the form of typeeither of metal or rubber over which ink is spread by the meanshereinafter described before the plunger is advanced to make itsimpression on the mail matter. The other plunger head, as above noted,is utilized to equalize the pressure on the mail matter and ordinarilyno stamp or type will be carried thereby.

The other plunger stem 25 carries a coin run-way 32 having a pluralityof coin passages 33 as shown in Fig. 7 and also in the detail sectionsFigs. 14 and 15. In Figs. 7 and 14 only two of such passages are shownthe same being designed to receive two pennies whereas in Fig. 15 fourof such passages are shown to receive four pennies, the number ofpassages corresponding with the amount of postage to be indicated by thestamp on the cover, wrapper or envelop containing the mail matter. Thecabinet illustrated in elevation in Figs. 1 and 2 is designed for onlyone weight of mail matter and constitutes a mail box unit. It willtherefore be understood that any desired number of units may be employedin accordance with the various denominations of stamps required.

The plunger operating mechanism comprises a master wheel 34 of the spurgear type and'mutilated as indicated in Fig. 3. Meshing with the fixedteeth of the wheel 34 is a spur pinion 35 on one end of a horizontalshaft 36 journaled in the cabinet, said shaft being provided at a pointabout centrally thereof with another pinion 37 which mesheswith andactuates a vertically slidable rack bar 38-normally upheld andsubsequently retracted in an upward direction by means of a coiledexpansion spring 39 interposed between a fixed cross piece 40 within thecabinet and a shoulder 41 preferably in the form of a nut threaded onthe upper end of the rack bar 38 so as to provide for adjusting thetension of said spring 39.

42 designates a roller for maintaining the mesh between the teeth of thepinion 37 and the teeth of the rack bar 38.

At its lower end the rack bar 38 is provided with a lateral extension orfoot 43 through which is inserted the threaded stem 44 of a hook holdingclip 45, adjusting nuts 46 and 47 being threaded on the stem 44 aboveand beneath the foot or extension 43 so as to provide for adjusting theplunger operating hook 48 up and down to give the desired throw to thepin wheel 49 in con junction with which it operates as shown, forexample in Fig. 4.

By reference to Figs. 12 and 13 in connection with Fig. 4 the exactrelationship between the hook and rack bar will be clearly understood,Fig. 12 illustrating the particular form of the clip 45 which, it willbe observed, is forked to receive the lower end of the hook 48, the hookbeing pivotally connected with the clip 45 by means of a pin 50 or itsequivalent. 51 designates a spring which operates to hold the hook 48against the pin wheel to insure the engagement of the bill 52 of thehook with one of the pins 53 of the wheel 49. The spring 51 is shown ascomposed of wire bent into rU-shape and inserted through the hook 48while the terminals thereof are coiled around the pivot pin 50 andinserted through holes 54 in said clip to enable the spring to act withthe desired pressure against the hook 48.

The foot or extension 43 of the rack bar is also provided withoppositely projecting guide pins 55 which work up and down in guidegrooves 56 in the oppositely arranged parallel members 57 within thecabinet. The pinion 37 is formed as shown in Fig. 11 in which it will beobserved that the central portion of the pinion is cut away or groovedat 58 to receive a guiding rib 59 on the adjacent face .oftherackbar 38thus insuring a smooth coiiperationbetween said pinions and rack bar. 7

By reference to Fig. 7 it will be observed that the plunger body 22carriesashaft 60 upon which are mounted three disk shaped wheels 61which cotiperate with: a corresponding number of pin wheels 49. It willalso be seenthatieach pin wheel 4E9'embodies a series of radiating arms62veach of which is bifurcated or slottedas at v63 and crossed by one ofthe pins 53. Between the arms .62, the periphery or face of the wheel isconca-ved or cut out on an are as shown at,637 to conform to theperiphery of the cotiperating disk or wheel 61 as clearly shown in Fig.a. It will now be. understood that when the hook 4:8 is pulleddownwardly from the position illustrated in Fig.4, this beingtheposition of rest, to the position. illustrated in Fig. 10, one of thepins '53 will operate against the peripheryof the respective disk orwheel 61 and asall of the wheels l9 are simultaneously revolved througha portion of a circle, all of the wheels 61 will. be simultaneouslyactuated thereby advancing the plunger and the several stems thereoftoward the front of the cabinet temporarily overcoming the tension. ofthe plunger returning springs 27. When the hook e8 has completed itsdownward movement, the wheels 4:9 resume the same relation to the wheels61 as shown in Fig. 4, and the master wheel 3% having beenturnedbackwardly by a the pinion 35 under-the action of the spring 39 on therack bar 38, the hook 48 is also elevated to its initial positionshowninFig. 4 where it engages .the next succeeding pin 53, the mechanismbeing then again .in readiness for operation upon the insertion ofanother coin. p t e Themechanism for locking and releasing the plungerwill now be described.

64: designates ;a. plurality of coinchute upper sections ,(see Fig. 40)the receiving ends of which vprojectthrough the front wall of thecabinet and also through a face plate 65 through which the ,coins areinserted into the chutes.v 'A corresponding number of lower stationarychute sections 66 extend fronra point just over the coin boX 19 upwardlyto a point close to the path of movement of. themovable run-wav 32.Thestationary upper chute sections 64 areprovidedwith laterally andforwardly facing discharge openings 67 permitting the coins to passthrough lateral entrances 68 inthe run-way 32 into the pas sages 33 ofsaid run-way where they fall upon,

and their movement isarrested by, the forwardly pro ect1ng portions 69of a series of trip dogs 70 pivotally mounted intermediate their ends at71 on a bracket 7 and provided with relatively heavy heel ends orextensions 72 which insure the return of the trip dogs to their normallyhor zontal positions indicated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. As a correspondingnumber of dogs and latches is used in connection with eachcoin passage,a description of one set of dogs and latches will answer for all. Byreference particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 16 it will be noted that inconnection with each trip dog 7 01 employ a latch embodying. anupstanding abutment; portion 7 3 and a horizontal portion 7ihavingoppositely-arranged downwardly extending flanges 75 which embracethe heel end or extension 72 of the dog, the latch being pivotallymounted at 7 6' at a point remote from the pivotal point of the dog 7 0and both the dog and latch being pivotally supported by a bracket 77.Normally the abutment portion73 of the latch stands in the ,path of astop 78 fast on theccntral plungerstem 25 as shown in Fig. 9 and alsorendered adjustable by means of a set screw 79 to bring said stop 78into the desired relation to the latch abutment 7 3. The downwardmovement of the portion 69 of the-trip dog. is arrested by a shoulder 80which as shown in Fig. 5 may consist of the upper extremity of the lowersection 66 of the coin chute.

The operation of this part of themechanism will now be clearlyunderstood. A suitable number of coins of the proper denomination areinserted through the face plate 65 whereupon they gravitate downwardlyin the upper chute sections 64, passing from thence into the passages 33of the horizontally shiftable run-way 32. The coins then depress thetrip dogs in the manner indicatedin Fig. 5 but cannot escape from therun-way 32 until said run-way has been shifted horizontally from theposition shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6. WVhen the dogs70 tilt, however, the latches are correspondingly tilted on their pivotsthereby throwing the abutment portions 73 out of the path of the stop 78. The operator then turns the handle 81 on the shaft 82 of the masterwheel 34 in a counterclockwise direction (referring to Figs. 2 and 3),thereby advancing the plunger which is thus unlocked. As the run-way 32advances, the coins therein fall through the sections 66 of the coinchute into the coin boX19. In the return movement of the plunger, thelatches tilt to permit the stop 7 to pass by the same.

The mechanism for inking the stamp or type on the plunger head will nowbe described. e

83 designates an ink cup or trough and 84 an ink supply roller whichdips into the ink cup or trough 83, said cup or trough being arrangedwith oppositely arranged flanges 85 which press tightly against thesurface of the roller, scraping oil surplus ink and preventing theleakage of ink from the cup as shown in Fig. 9. The cup 83 is providedwith a downwardly extending stem 86 passing through a guide 87 on abracket 88, the cup being held elevated toward the roller 8% by means ofa coiled expansion spring 89 surrounding the stem 86 as shown in Fig. 9,and interposed between said cup and bracket. The roller 84: is carriedby a shaft 90 mounted in fixed bearings and at each end said roller isprovided with ratchet teeth 91 to provide for turning the said inksupply roller.

92 designates an inking roller which is journaled in the free ends of apair of oppositely arranged springs 93 attached to a carrier 91 which isslidable vertically in the front of the cabinet. The carrier 9-1comprises parallel downwardly extending guides 95 which are slidablethrough guide openings in a cross bar 96 forming part of the frame workof the cabinet as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The springs 93 serve to pressthe roller 92 against the ink supply roller 8% as the carrier 94 movevertically. The carrier 9a is also provided with a pair of spring pawls97 which in the upward movement of the carrier strike against the teeth91 and impart a partial revolution to the roller 84 thereby bringing afreshly inked surface of said roller into contact with the inking roller92. In the further upward movement of the carrier 91 the inking roller92 passes across the type face of the plunger head thereby preparing thestamp for the succeeding impression.

The vertical movement of the carrier 94 is accomplished in the followingmanner: Extending upwardly from the carrier 94 is a rack bar 98 workingthrough one or more guides 99 on the frame of the cabinet. Cooperatingwith said rack bar 98 is a pinion 100 fast on the same shaft withanother pinion 101 which meshes with a toothed segment 102 adjustablealong the rim of the master wheel. 34 as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 17wherein it will be observed that the segment 102 is provided withlaterally projecting threaded stems 103 capable of being shiftedlengthwise of a slot 104 in the rim of the master wheel and fastened bymeans of nuts 105. This adjustment of the segment 102 is desirable inorder to obtain the proper relative movement of the carrier 94.

with its inking roller 92 and the movement of the pinion 37 whichcontrols the operation of the plunger. It will also be observed byreference to Fig. 41 that the pinion 100 is larger than the pinion 37 inorder that the carrier may be shifted upwardly with a quicker movementthan the movement imparted to the plunger by the pinion 37, so as to getthe inking roller out of the way before the plunger starts forward.

An ink reservoir 106 is mounted within the cabinet at a higher elevationthan the ink cup or trough 83 and has a pipe 107 leading therefromtosaid trough as shown in Fig. 9. The reservoir 106 is provided with aremovable cover 108 to permit filling the same and access is obtained tosaid reservoir through a door 109 fastened by means of a suitablelockllO.

From the foregoing description it will be now understood that themechanism contained within the cabinet is normally locked and cannot beoperated until coins of the proper number and of the proper denominationare introduced therein. When said coins are inserted in the cabinet, thelatch mechanism is operated so as to release and unlock the plungermechanism. The operator then moves the handle 81 in a counterclockwisedirection for a portion of a revolution of the master wheel 34. Thiswheel controls both the inking and plunger operoperating mechanisms, theinking mechanism being operated'with greater rapidity than the plungermechanism so that the stamp is first inked and then thrust forwardagainst the cover, wrapper or envelop of the mail matter which haspreviously been inserted in the exposed pocket 7' at the front of thecabinet. Upon releasing the operating handle 81, the entire mechanism isrestored to its initial'condition by the eX- pansion of the springs 27and 39, the plunger being locked by the latches which return to theirinitial positions by gravity. The operator then presses on the pushbutton 11, thereby opening the trap door and permitting the mail matterto descend by gravity through the chute 12 into the main receptacle 13.In the forward movement of the coin run-way 32, the coins drop therefromthrough the bottom portion of the chutes into the coin box 19.

It will be noted that the hook 48 in its initial position extends abovethe pin 53 as shown in Fig. 4:. Thispermits the inking roller to moveupwardly beyond the opening 29 in the plate 30 before the hook 52 beginsto turn the wheel 19 and advance the stamp 28. The springs 93 will holdthe inking roller against the plate30 above the opening 29 until theoperating handle 81 is released and then the toothed segment 102 willforce said inking roller downward to its initial position.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. A mail box comprising a movable impression stamp, a plunger by whichsaid stamp is carried, means for operating said plunger including amaster wheel and pinion, an inking rollermovable across said impressionstamp, and means for shifting said roller embodying a carrier for saidroller, rack and pinion mechanism for moving said carrier, and a toothedsegment adjustable on the master wheel for actuating said rack andpinion mechanism. 1

2. A mail box comprising a movable impression stamp, a plunger by whichsaid stamp is carried, means for operating said plunger including amaster wheel and pinion, the plunger operating means embodying aslidable rack bar, a plunger actuating wheel, and a hook carried by saidrack bar and engaging said wheel.

3. A mail box comprising a movable impression stamp, a plunger by whichsaid stamp is carried, means for operating said plunger including amaster wheel and pinion, the plunger operating means embodying aslidable rack bar, a plunger actuating wheel, a hook carried by saidrack bar and engaging said wheel, and a spring for retracting said rackbar.

4. A mail box comprising a movable im pression stamp, a plunger by whichsaid stamp is carried, means for operating said plunger including amaster wheel and pinion, said plunger operating mechanism including awheel journaled on the plunger, another wheel carrying a pin cooperatingwith the first named wheel, a rack bar, and a hook carried'by said rackbar and engaging the wheel which carries the plunger operating pin.

5. A mail box comprising a movable impression stamp, a plunger by whichsaid stamp is carried, means for operating said plunger including amaster wheel and pinion, said plunger operating mechanism including awheel j ournaled on the plunger, another wheel carrying a pincooperating with the first named wheel, a rack bar, a hook carried bysaid rack bar and engaging the wheel which carries the plunger operatingpin, and means for adjusting said hook in relation to said rack bar andthe wheel which carries the plunger operating pin.

6. A mail boX comprising a movable impression stamp, a plunger by whichsaid stamp is carried, means for operating said plunger including amaster wheel and pinion, an inking mechanism for said stamp comprising areciprocatory carrier, an inking roller carried thereby, an ink supplycup, an ink supply roller journaled on said cup, and means on thecarrier for turning said ink supply roller.

'7. A mail box comprising a movable impression stamp, a plunger by whichsaid stamp is carried, means for operating said plunger including amaster wheel and pinion, and means for inking said impression stampcomprising a reciprocatory carrier, an inking roller carried thereby, aspring sustained ink cup, an ink supply roller having its shaftjournaled in fixed bearings, and means on the carrier for turning saidink supply roller.

8. A mail box comprising a movable impression stamp, a plunger by whichsaid stamp is carried. means for operating said plunger including amaster wheel and pinion, the plunger operating mechanism embodying areciprocatory rack bar actuated by said master wheel, a pin carryingwheel cooperating with said plunger, a hook pivotally connected withsaid rack bar and engaging said pin carrying wheel, and a spring forpressing said hook toward said pin carrying wheel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM MORRISON.

Witnesses:

A. N. GLENN, H. O. ZIEGLER.

G'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O.

